Common Methods Used For Fabricating Plastic

Plastic fabrication in the modern times has spelled a myriad of benefits for humans. There is practically no field or industry in Sydney where plastic is not used in one way or another. However, many of us have little to no idea as how the wonderful material is made suitable for commercialisation. There are a wide range of methods employed by fabricators in order to mould and shape plastic into commonly used products like displays, cake stands, food cabinets, raffle barrels, pipes, tubes and so on.

So let’s take a look at the methods popularly used in the field of plastic fabrication:

Blending or Compounding

This procedure involves mixing 2 or more kind of plastics by melting, then moulding and finally cooling the materials into the desired shapes. Compounding aids in making new plastics more durable and better than their raw versions.

Welding

Most people might associate this term with the fabrication of metal, but it is also a common plastic fabrication method. The process is generally utilised for thermoplastics since they cannot be bonded with the help of adhesives. It is conducted using a wide range of media, including hot plate, hot gas, ultrasonics and speed tip.

Extrusion

Extrusion is a popular plastic fabrication technique used for making sheets, tubes and pipes in large sizes and complex shapes. Initially, the plastics are melted so that they can easily be cut in the form of pellets, which are then forced via a die. Extrusion produces plastic that has uniform density and is very sturdy.

Lamination

Lamination of plastic is done in order to achieve a protective coating over plastic products. The result is generally durable, necessitates less upkeep, and is aesthetically pleasing.

Vacuum Forming

This particular plastic fabrication method involves heating plastic and then stretching the same in a mould. In order to hold the entire thing in place, a vacuum is usually used. Vacuum forming is a method applied commonly for manufacturing the popular brand of acrylic, Plexiglass. Besides that, it also helps in making medical trays.

Foaming

Plastic foaming comes into play when there is a need to produce lightweight plastic items with good insulation properties, which are often utilised as building finishes. The method includes usage of polystyrene and polyurethane for creation of foam & froth to make plastics of various sizes and shapes.

So basically these are the most common methods of plastic fabrication.